Teaching German

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In pictures: Dortmund break their finals curse

Dortmund's 2-1 win against Frankfurt ended a lengthy series of finishes as runners-up. At the fourth German Cup final attempt in four years, a record in itself, BVB have sealed their first major trophy since 2012.

Bridesmaids no more

Dortmund finally got their hands on a major trophy after years often spent reaching the final hurdle, but falling at it. The game was a hard-fought 2-1 win against a spirited Eintracht Frankfurt in Berlin. There was also a new face handing over the trophy, new German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who replaced Joachim Gauck this year.

Reus' first major trophy

Some facts simply do not seem right. For instance, the fact that Marco Reus had never won a major competition in his career. That unlucky run was finally buried on Saturday. Reus had joined Dortmund in 2012, just after their double-winning season with Jürgen Klopp. The "Pechvogel" (literally an "unlucky bird") of German footie also missed the 2014 World Cup (and Euro 2016) with injury.

Tuchel's trophy, and the end of the drought

Coach Thomas Tuchel might be leaving Dortmund in the off-season. If he does, he can now do so with a major men's trophy on his CV. Niko Kovac's side put up a sturdy fight in Berlin. For Dortmund, the victory ended a drought dating all the way back to the 2012 German Cup final. Despite reaching a string of finals, even the biggest of them all, the Black and Yellows had lost the lot.

The decisive penalty

Substitute Christian Pulisic, on for the luckless Marco Reus, secured the penalty that led to Dortmund's victory. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's ice-cold finish restored the lead Dortmund had taken in just the eighth minute - before Frankfurt's Ante Rebic equalized.

Cheeky chip, and a fitting farewell?

Aubameyang's disguised, lofted penalty down the middle was designed both to deceive and embarrass Frankfurt keeper Lukas Hradecky. It succeeded on both fronts. Aubameyang had a strong second half in what's rumored to be his last match at Dortmund. Long a transfer target for several top teams, his contract through 2020 might not mean much if the right offer is tabled.

Bartra's glee after bomb injury

The night also offered a more positive emotional rollercoaster for Marc Bartra, the player injured in April's bomb attack on BVB's team bus. The Spanish defender, who returned for Dortmund in time for the end of the league season, is still wearing a protective cast after sustaining lacerations and a fractured wrist in the attack.

2012's thrashing that's becoming a mere memory

There's no doubt when Jürgen Klopp's Borussia Dortmund tenure peaked. On May 12, 2012, Dortmund secured the domestic double, humiliating Bayern Munich 5-2 in Berlin. More than a fitting way to cap off a successful Bundesliga title defense. It's safe to say the result got Bayern's attention. Before long, many of Dortmund's stars would move to Munich.

Hat trick hero, later to defect

Robert Lewandowski netted three that day in Berlin, and probably didn't realize it would be the last major trophy he would win with Dortmund. He'd face further disappointment in finals against Bayern, before moving to join their ranks on a free transfer. He wasn't alone in making that move; just ask Mario Götze (now back at Dortmund) and Mats Hummels.

Losing the big one to treble-winning Bayern

Bayern hit back in the following season under Jupp Heynckes, first winning the domestic double to equal Dortmund's achievements in the previous season. But the campaign culminated in Wembley, as the two German rivals met in the Champions League final. Dortmund couldn't stop Bayern securing the triple, ultimately losing 2-1 on an 89th-minute Arjen Robben goal.

Extra time defeat in 2014

Back in Berlin a year later, Klopp's Dortmund sought to at least claim the cup after Pep Guardiola's Bayern dominated the Bundesliga campaign. Despite holding Bayern to a 0-0 over 90 minutes, Arjen Robben (once again) and Thomas Müller scuppered Dortmund in extra time. By this point, former Dortmunder Mario Götze was in Bayern's starting lineup, and Lewandowski was playing his last game for BVB.

Different opponent, same result

In 2015, it was Wolfsburg claiming the cup at Dortmund's expense. The Wolves triumphed 3-1 on the night to claim the club's first ever German Cup win. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had put Dortmund ahead early, only for Luiz Gustavo, Kevin De Bruyne and Bas Dost to turn the game around with a first-half goal each.

Bowing out in defeat

The 2015 final defeat to Wolfsburg was Jürgen Klopp's last match at the helm in Dortmund. The cup had provided welcome distraction and hope for the club in the 14-15 season, when Dortmund spent months down in the relegation dogfight. Some strong form late in the season ultimately salvaged seventh place in the league, but silverware was a bridge too far in Berlin.

New coach, same result

Dortmund made history just by making it to Berlin this Saturday. No German club has ever competed in four consecutive DFB Pokal finals. The third of these, 2016's final, was Thomas Tuchel's first at Dortmund and Pep Guardiola's last at Bayern. After 120 goalless minutes, Bayern ultimately triumphed on penalties. For Dortmund, Sokratis and Sven Bender had the misfortune of missing from the spot.

Yet another difficult farewell

It's becoming something akin to a rite of passage for Dortmund stars - playing your last game for BVB in a final against your future employers, Bayern Munich. Club captain Mats Hummels became the last to cross said divide in 2016. Fans didn't know it at the time, but Mario Götze would book his return ticket to Dortmund later that summer after his stuttering spell with Munich.

Bridesmaids no more

Dortmund finally got their hands on a major trophy after years often spent reaching the final hurdle, but falling at it. The game was a hard-fought 2-1 win against a spirited Eintracht Frankfurt in Berlin. There was also a new face handing over the trophy, new German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who replaced Joachim Gauck this year.

Reus' first major trophy

Some facts simply do not seem right. For instance, the fact that Marco Reus had never won a major competition in his career. That unlucky run was finally buried on Saturday. Reus had joined Dortmund in 2012, just after their double-winning season with Jürgen Klopp. The "Pechvogel" (literally an "unlucky bird") of German footie also missed the 2014 World Cup (and Euro 2016) with injury.

Tuchel's trophy, and the end of the drought

Coach Thomas Tuchel might be leaving Dortmund in the off-season. If he does, he can now do so with a major men's trophy on his CV. Niko Kovac's side put up a sturdy fight in Berlin. For Dortmund, the victory ended a drought dating all the way back to the 2012 German Cup final. Despite reaching a string of finals, even the biggest of them all, the Black and Yellows had lost the lot.

The decisive penalty

Substitute Christian Pulisic, on for the luckless Marco Reus, secured the penalty that led to Dortmund's victory. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's ice-cold finish restored the lead Dortmund had taken in just the eighth minute - before Frankfurt's Ante Rebic equalized.

Cheeky chip, and a fitting farewell?

Aubameyang's disguised, lofted penalty down the middle was designed both to deceive and embarrass Frankfurt keeper Lukas Hradecky. It succeeded on both fronts. Aubameyang had a strong second half in what's rumored to be his last match at Dortmund. Long a transfer target for several top teams, his contract through 2020 might not mean much if the right offer is tabled.

Bartra's glee after bomb injury

The night also offered a more positive emotional rollercoaster for Marc Bartra, the player injured in April's bomb attack on BVB's team bus. The Spanish defender, who returned for Dortmund in time for the end of the league season, is still wearing a protective cast after sustaining lacerations and a fractured wrist in the attack.

2012's thrashing that's becoming a mere memory

There's no doubt when Jürgen Klopp's Borussia Dortmund tenure peaked. On May 12, 2012, Dortmund secured the domestic double, humiliating Bayern Munich 5-2 in Berlin. More than a fitting way to cap off a successful Bundesliga title defense. It's safe to say the result got Bayern's attention. Before long, many of Dortmund's stars would move to Munich.

Hat trick hero, later to defect

Robert Lewandowski netted three that day in Berlin, and probably didn't realize it would be the last major trophy he would win with Dortmund. He'd face further disappointment in finals against Bayern, before moving to join their ranks on a free transfer. He wasn't alone in making that move; just ask Mario Götze (now back at Dortmund) and Mats Hummels.

Losing the big one to treble-winning Bayern

Bayern hit back in the following season under Jupp Heynckes, first winning the domestic double to equal Dortmund's achievements in the previous season. But the campaign culminated in Wembley, as the two German rivals met in the Champions League final. Dortmund couldn't stop Bayern securing the triple, ultimately losing 2-1 on an 89th-minute Arjen Robben goal.

Extra time defeat in 2014

Back in Berlin a year later, Klopp's Dortmund sought to at least claim the cup after Pep Guardiola's Bayern dominated the Bundesliga campaign. Despite holding Bayern to a 0-0 over 90 minutes, Arjen Robben (once again) and Thomas Müller scuppered Dortmund in extra time. By this point, former Dortmunder Mario Götze was in Bayern's starting lineup, and Lewandowski was playing his last game for BVB.

Different opponent, same result

In 2015, it was Wolfsburg claiming the cup at Dortmund's expense. The Wolves triumphed 3-1 on the night to claim the club's first ever German Cup win. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had put Dortmund ahead early, only for Luiz Gustavo, Kevin De Bruyne and Bas Dost to turn the game around with a first-half goal each.

Bowing out in defeat

The 2015 final defeat to Wolfsburg was Jürgen Klopp's last match at the helm in Dortmund. The cup had provided welcome distraction and hope for the club in the 14-15 season, when Dortmund spent months down in the relegation dogfight. Some strong form late in the season ultimately salvaged seventh place in the league, but silverware was a bridge too far in Berlin.

New coach, same result

Dortmund made history just by making it to Berlin this Saturday. No German club has ever competed in four consecutive DFB Pokal finals. The third of these, 2016's final, was Thomas Tuchel's first at Dortmund and Pep Guardiola's last at Bayern. After 120 goalless minutes, Bayern ultimately triumphed on penalties. For Dortmund, Sokratis and Sven Bender had the misfortune of missing from the spot.

Yet another difficult farewell

It's becoming something akin to a rite of passage for Dortmund stars - playing your last game for BVB in a final against your future employers, Bayern Munich. Club captain Mats Hummels became the last to cross said divide in 2016. Fans didn't know it at the time, but Mario Götze would book his return ticket to Dortmund later that summer after his stuttering spell with Munich.